ICE vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 16, 2005 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ICE beat QQQ?
Yes — measured from Nov 16, 2005 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ICE came out ahead: $243,229 versus $206,292 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 16.6% annual return against 15.7%.
What would $10,000 in ICE be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) on Nov 16, 2005 would be worth about $243,229 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 2332.3% (16.6% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $206,292.
Which was riskier — ICE or QQQ?
ICE swung with an annualized volatility of 37.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -73.9%; QQQ ran at 21.9% volatility with a -53.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.39 for ICE vs 0.62 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 16, 2005 through Aug 28, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with ICE vs QQQ. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.